Collaborative conversations with Life's wise whispers. James Wells is honoured to offer tarot consultations and circle process hosting/training (enhanced, at times, with other tools & modalities). To book personal appointments and group experiences, contact James at circleways.james@gmail.com

“Bad” Keyword? Don’t Panic.

Today, my Card of the Day, from the William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination, is the 5 of Science. The keyword assigned to it by Ed Buryn, the deck’s creator, is “division”. It would be so easy to get caught in a mental panic about separation, creating wedges between myself and other people, isolation, and assigning blame for relational rifts. This, however, would not be constructive. Certainly it’s good for me to reference these ideas as how not to be in the world today. But there’s more.

I sat with the card and reflected on how it is true in my life and how its concepts might be helpful strategies.

First, I had already done some journalling this morning about how not to be divisive, even unconsciously, with people in my life. I wrote about a certain energy that I didn’t want to be wedge between me and others in order to bring this energy to consciousness, to name it so it could not have power over me and my interactions. This brings me to the second point about today’s card, its number and suit. Fives, for me are about change. The suit of Science can be about, among other things, thoughts and communication. So the card suggests that I choose to change my thoughts and words in order to change my interactions. True, in light of my earlier journal writing session.

Third, I’m offering a Tarot for Manifestation workshop in Oakville this evening, so the Five-ness and Science-ness remind me to adjust my language or wording according to those who are present. Then I thought about “division” as a helpful strategy (I like proactive tarot!). To divide something into smaller bits is often a good way to avoid being overwhelmed or to make a situation less confusing or messy. If I’m making hummus and my food processer only takes so many chickpeas, I need to mix it in smaller batches so the machine won’t clog up and give me an inferior product. Applying this constructive point of view of division to my day, it may be helpful for me to break down communicational/educational tasks into manageable pieces. Don’t bamboozle this evening’s participants with too much at once; make sure that the process’s individual components are presented clearly, one at a time.

All of this to say that pictures aren’t the only symbols on tarot cards and other tools of insight. Words are also symbols. We need to be careful about being literal with them all the time. While division is sometimes an unpleasant split, it can also be a sensible way to get things done. If the deck you’re using has keywords printed on the cards, really check in with yourself about a greater spectrum of possible applications of a card’s keyword. Take it to the worst-case scenario, then the best-case scenario, then be honest about which end of the scale is most likely true for you in the moment. You’ll hold a more balanced perspective and you’ll learn more about the card and yourself.

very helpful thoughts, James. especially.. seeing “the worst-case scenario, then the best-case scenario” and finding your present place on that scale.
Just out of curiousity, I checked out the 5 of swords in a couple of decks.. and came up with the same ‘feeling’ for best-case scenario. It was a ‘Good Survival’.. a sort of “it’s me or you and I choose me” basic survival thing. One deck was the Inner Child Tarot.. a very interesting take on the card.. and still I saw “Survival.. take care of yourself”.

It’s interesting to check out other version of a card to gain more ideas, isn’t it, Judy? I really appreciate the idea of “it’s me or you, and I choose me”. There’s a very empowered feel to that phrase.

I learned that lesson from my favourite red-tailed hawk who ate my favourite cardinal in the garden of my last house. She basically sat on a branch outside my bedroom window ,afterwards, staring at me till I got it!It was very important for me at the time. Bless both their little birdie hearts.

James, I agree with your ‘best case’ scenario, and it can help prevent the ‘worst case’ one, too. It reminds me that the best way to break a bundle of twigs is to divide it up. Also one can easily tear a phone book by fanning the pages (sorta dividing). I now have a keyword phrase for the 5 of Swords – “Divide and Conquer’ (although I’ll consider the ‘conquer’ part very gently).

A good distillation for many versions of the 5 of Swords, Mary. If the guy in the 10 of Wands ever reads this, he might actually lighten his load after more than a century of schlepping the branches all at once. If you run into Ed, please let him know how much I’m enjoying the new version of the William Blake deck. Very clear images!

And I agree that this process can prevent us from getting too “sweetness and light” about certain cards. The Sun can certainly be about cheer, enthusiasm, child-like play, bringing things to the light of consciousness, and happy rebirth. It can also be about needing to be the “centre of the solar system”, burnout, acting out in a childish manner, and rebirthing old unwanted patterns in new forms. So, dear readers, please apply discernment to cards that appear to be only “good” or only “bad”. All cards, ultimately, are neutral. Our questions will slant them one way or the other.